Nail.



PATENTED MAR. 19, 1907. G. A.- BIRDSALL.

NAIL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.18, 1906.

WITNESSES shown, have been secured together.

the nail, to bind two pieces of timber toand of substantially the same diameter, is an UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

Specification of Letters Patent.

.ratenteu March 19, 1907.

Application filed Auguat 18,1906. serial No. 331,129.

To alll whom, it mwycorwern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES ALBERT BIRDSALL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Holden, in the county of Johni son and State of Missouri, have invented a i new and Improved Nail, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention is an improved nail especially designed to be used in connection with all kinds of woodwork where a smooth finish is desired. The nail is constructed with a novel form of prongs projecting from its head, which serve, in connection with the body of gether, the body of the nail when the two pieces are secured being contained in one of the timbers and the prongs in the other, the nail-head occupying an intermediate position.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a erspective view of one form of my improve nail. Fig.2 shows the nail after it has been driven into a piece of timber. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a specialtool employed in driving the nail. Fig. 4 is a view disclosing the shape taken by the nail after two pieces of timber, which arle1 also ig. 5 is a perspective view of a modification of the nail shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the shape assumed by the nail after it has been used in securing two pieces of timber together.

Referring more especially to Figs. 1, 2, and 4, the numeral 1 indicates a nail having a body portion 2 and a head 3, of the usual wirenail construction, Projecting from the top of the head 3, in alinement with the body 1 extension longitudinally bifurcated through its center, forming prongs 4 at each side thereof. These prongs are scored on their outer faces with triangular notches and beveled outwardly from the bifurcation on their outer ends, providing chisel edges 5.

For driving the nail into a piece of timber I preferably employ a special tool, (shown in ig. 3,) which comprises a punch 6, having a concentric hole 7 entering one end, the latter being divided by a cross-plate 8. This forms recesses in the end of the unch to exactly fit the prongs 4 and permit t e nail to be driven .without interference therewith, the end of Y the punchbearing on the-head 3 during the driving operation. A hole 9 passes transversely through the 'punch 6 and communicates with the hole 8, enabling the hole 8 to be kept free of dirt and also serving as a means to indicate to the workman when the prongs of the nail are set in the right position or the grain of the wood which is to beengaged by them.

After the body of the nail has been driven home, as shown in Fig. 2, by the tool illustrated in Fig. 3' a second piece of timber is applied to the head of the nail and hammered in contact with the first piece of timber, as shown in Fig. 4. This causes the prongs 4 to enter the second piece of timber and spread apart on so entering, due to the action of the outward bevel of the chisel edges 5. The two pieces of timber are then securely clenched together, the scoring in the prongs positively preventing the separation of the parts.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a modified form of nail, comprising a body portion 10, with ahead 11, shaped in the fashion of a clout-nail. Extending just underneath the head 11 from the body 10 is a perpendicular arm or portion 12, beveled on both'sides to form a chisel edge 13 on its under ed e. From the outer end of the arm 12 vertica ily rises a ortion of substantially the shape of the bo y of the nail and bifurcated longitudinally, providing prongs 14, corresponding to the prongs 4 of the nail just described. These prongs are scored on their corners, as also beveled outwardly from the bifurcation at their upper ends, forming chisel edges 15, which act in the use of a nail the same as disclosed in Fig. 4.

In driving the nail shown in Fig. 5 no special form of tool is required; but an ordinary hammer is used to strike the head 11 of the The prongs 14 be 100 nail in the usual manner. ing offset from. the body of the nail makes this ossible. The chisel edge 13 of the arm 12 adhpting this arm to readily enter the wood and the head 1 1 extending slightly above the arm 12 prevents said arm from coming in 105 contact with the hammer, which is an 1mportant feature.

Although I have particularly described the invention in detail, I consider that I am entitled to such modifications as fall within the 1 10 S00 e of the annexed claim.

avlng thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 1 In testhnony whereof I have signed my Patent name to Hu ])(-i-1fi(*1LLlOI1 1n the presmweol' 10 A nail comprising a bodyortion having a two subscribing itnesses. head at one end thereof, am pron s extend- 5 g from h ppq Side the R said I CHARLES ALBERT BIRDS/ h.

pron s havmg then extremltles beveled out- Wltnesses: Ward y. and provlded wlth scormg on the JAMES T. SIMPSON,

outer faces. ARNOFF B. NEWLAND. 

